Introduction
The village of Overslag - being one of the border towns that spread along the dutch-belgian border - is of rich history and unique character. Ever since the disappearance of the hard border, the once splitting line instantaneously became a permeable membrane. Crossing the border became a process integrated into the daily routine of the inhabitants and once differing lifestyles very quickly became homogenous. However, established logistics, politics and built structures adapt more slowly and…
Introduction
The village of Overslag - being one of the border towns that spread along the dutch-belgian border - is of rich history and unique character. Ever since the disappearance of the hard border, the once splitting line instantaneously became a permeable membrane. Crossing the border became a process integrated into the daily routine of the inhabitants and once differing lifestyles very quickly became homogenous. However, established logistics, politics and built structures adapt more slowly and mainly remained the same.
Concept
As the regional analysis in the early design process made obvious, these various differences in organizational systems between the Netherlands and Belgium concern multiple large-scale sectors like infrastructure, urban development, and the property organization as well as their appearance in detail. The notion of the border within the village of Overslag reflects the individual regional characteristics of the communities Terneuzen (NL) and Wachtebeke (BE).
The new Interreg-Campus is intended to show these differences, make use of strengths and become a distilled expression of the dutch and the belgian management of organization.
The contrasting volumes are situated on opposite sides of the national border, generating the In-Between of the border-zone - a „Void“ that lets both natures express their uniqueness and show the separational character of the border. However, programmatic dependencies force the complex to be used as a whole, bind the bodies together and introduce the idea of working together, learning from each other and overlooking the concept border.
The new Interreg-Campus reflects the paradox character of the border and applies it to an architectural concept. It plays a game of segregation and conflation, making differences obvious, exchange possible and encounter forced.
Analysis & Application
Through the analysis of mappings, photographs and reading examples of these differences are digested in an index. The translation of this Index into spatial theses represents the source of information for the design. Multiple design principles are distilled and samples (maps) are scaled, rotated and layered to solidify floor plans, aesthetics and the distribution of program. Interior conception, Façades, volumetric composition, and vistas can be elaborated from the outcomes of this process, providing elaborate reinterpretations of either character. Plot samples provide the separation of space, the distribution of crops inform the spreading of program and (rail-)road maps lay down interior walking paths.
Design
Following this framework, folie-like furniture is placed to inherit the space and allow the building to function. Two crosswalks covering the street that runs through the void (and follows the border), as well as two bridges, span between the volumes create strong connections. The bridges bear no windows and hide the moment of border crossing from the user. He/She is confronted with two very different interiors though is not noticed when a transition is happening. A constant circulation through the complex lifts the weight of separation of the entities and their dualism.
The Façades are cladded in brushed aluminum panels, reflecting the scenery and surroundings and allowing the bodies to blur into the landscape. Either side facing the void is non-reflective, underlining the separational character of the border.
